약속
yaksok[ja̠ks͈o̞k̚]
The Korean word for "promise" is 약속 (yaksok).
약속 is used to mean a vow or a promise. However, it is also commonly used to refer to any social appointment, engagement or meeting with someone. While English often reserves the word "appointment" for professional settings, in Korean, 약속 is the standard word for both social and professional meetings.
Meaning: vow (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "to make a promise," you combine the noun 약속 with the verb 하다 (to do) to form 약속을 하다. To say "to keep a promise," use the noun 약속 with the verb 지키다 (to keep/protect) as 약속을 지키다. To say "to break a promise," use the noun 약속 with the verb 어기다 (to violate/break) as 약속을 어기다.
How do you pronounce it?
yaksok
Did you know?
- The word 약속 is composed of characters meaning 'agreement' and 'bind'. Literally, making a promise in Korean is envisioned as tying or binding two people together.
- The phrase 약속을 잡다, which means 'to catch a promise', is the common way to describe the act of scheduling a meeting.
- The verb 지키다 used in 'keeping a promise' also means 'to guard' or 'to protect', as if a promise is a physical territory that must be defended.
Examples in context
- 나는 그와의 약속을 지켰다.I kept my promise to him.This sentence shows how to use 약속 to express keeping a promise.Tatoeba #4568855 by imjcooper, translation #4568123 by maydoo
- 바보같은 짓은 하지 않겠다고 나한테 약속해.Promise me you won't do anything stupid.This sentence shows how to use 약속 to ask someone to promise.Tatoeba #8363249 by Eunhee, translation #2206506 by Hybrid
- 약속할게.I promise.This sentence shows how to use 약속 to say "I promise".Tatoeba #8363486 by Eunhee, translation #2111800 by CK
- 저는 약속합니다I promise
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Minjun and Minji are talking about their weekend plans.
- 민준 Min-jun이번 주말에 약속 있어요?i-beon ju-mal-e yak-sok iss-eo-yo?Do you have any plans this weekend?
- 민지 Min-ji네, 친구와의 약속이 있어요.ne, chin-gu-wa-ui yak-sok-i iss-eo-yo.Yes, I have an appointment with a friend.
- 민준 Min-jun민지는 정말 바쁘군요.Min-ji-neun jeong-mal ba-ppeu-gun-yo.Minji, you are really busy.
- 민지 Min-ji네, 그래서 조금 피곤해요.ne, geu-rae-seo jo-geum pi-gon-hae-yo.Yes, so I am a little tired.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “promise” translations and entries 약속, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 약속, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
